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W. M. WHEILDON AND E. H. ANGIER.

WRAPPING MACHINE FOR ANNULAR ARTICLES.

' APFHCATION HLED APR-26,1912" 1,380,448 Patented Jun 7, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

laws-minus; Edwar'd Hulngzler, MT Wwxiidon.

W. M. WHElLDON AND E. H. ANGIER.

WRAPPlNG MACHINE FOR ANNULAR ARTICLES.-

APPLICA ION FILED APR.26,19!7.

Patented June 7, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WRAPPING MACHINE FOR ANNULAR ARTICLES.

APPUCATION'FILED APR. 26, 1917,

1 80,448 Patented June 7,1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATE-T OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. WHEILDON, 0F ASHLAND, AND EDWARD H. ANGIER, OF FRAMINGHAM,MASSACHUSETTS; SAID WHEILDON ASSIGNOR 'IO SAID ANGIER.

WRAPPING-MACHINE FOR ANNULAR ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 7, 1921.

Application filed April 26, 1917. Serial No. 164,825.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WVILLIAM M. WVHEIL- DONand ED'WARI) H. ANGIER, citizens of the United States, and residents ofAshland and Framingham, respectively, in the county of Middlesex andState of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inWrapping-lvlachines for Annular Articles, of

.which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This; invention relates to wrapping machines and the purpose is toprovide a device which will neatly and expeditiously wrap an annulararticle, such for example as a pneumatic vehicle tire, with a strip ofpaper.

Our invention will best be understood by reference to the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a front elevation of onesuitable form of machine;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section;

'Fig. i is a detail of the mechanism used for plaiting the wrappingstrip;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken along one of the elements of thecylindrical supporting drum and show the parts in different positionswhich they take during the operation of the machine; and

Fig. 7 is a central transverse section through a vehicle tire shoeinclosed in a wrapping applied by the machine shown.

While our invention is applicable for use in wrapping various annular ortoric articles a conspicuous instance of such an article is a pneumaticvehicle tire and for convenienco in description we shall refer to a tireas exemplary of other articles of similar form and we have herein shownthe machine at work in wrapping a tire.

An understanding of the mechanism herein disclosed will be facilitatedby a brief description of the package formed by its operation. \Ve refertherefore to Fig. 7 in which we have shown a pneumatic tire shoeincloscd in a wrapping such as would be applied by the machineillustrated. The tire a is inclosed by a strip of paper 6, fitting thecross sectional circumference thereof. This'strip of paper I) encirclesthe inner circumference of the tire and has edges inclosing the sides ofthe tire and presented in opposition to each other, herein adjacentthetread, where they are secured together as for example by means of asealing strip 0. It will be understood that the circumference of thetire is greater from the rim side outwardly. In order to permit thepaper to be fitted to the shape of the tire therefore it is providedwith transverse plaits (Z and as the edges ofthe paper strip extend uparound the tire sides these plaits are opened out to a greater or lessextent as may be necessary to accommodate the increased dimension of thetire.

Referring therefore to the mechanism chosen for illustration, andreferring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine shown embodies asuitable frame 9, having standards 10 and 11 at either end, in one ofwhich as the standard 10 at the left of Fig. 1 is journaled a shaft 13.its shown in Fig. 1, this shaft may be driven from an electric motor 15mounted on one of the standardsby means of a suitable train of gearing17 The shaft 13 carries a support for the tire which is to be wrapped,which support herein takes the form of a drum 19, the cylindricalsurface of which is a flange extending from a disk 21 fixed on theshaft. The surface of the drum may also be supported by webs 23, theouter portions of which are conveniently bifurcated, as seen best inFig. 8, for a purpose presently to be described.

With certain parts in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1,description of which parts we for the present postpone, the tire a maybe placed upon the drum 19. Guiding and centering means are provided forthe tire, conveniently in the form of rolls 25, 27 and 29, which form aset concentric with the drum 19. To move these supporting rolls in andout away from the center of the drum, to permit the tire to be placed inposition and then to be engaged by the rolls, which, as seen in Figs. 1and 2, conveniently have concave peripheries to fit the tire tread, theseveral rolls are mounted (Fig. 3) on bell-crank levers 31, 33 and 35pivoted on an are shaped plate 36 which rises from the base 9 andpartially encircles drum 19. The several levers are connected by links87 and 39 arranged to be actuated the foot pedal will swing the rationor to permit the tl rum 1 bell-cranks so as to more the seceral rooutwardly and thus permit the assembled with the drum.

air meshing Ll in tread of the tire as illustrate As has been explained,the purp machine here shown is to wra 57 which wil CK new.

rip of p is adjust be operated by pech.

lerstoml that it l 7 the 80 which i will be um leh with a st iper whle1o grully over the inner eirciuniterenee i and has its edges joined toterm a co inclosing easing. li e hare uirthermo plained that the paperis ti by plaits. of

used in wl' re is The strip upping the t1 the drum bletl therewith ontire itself, the drum tor-min t D e 1m e Q JO l t n 1 G L Y li t R 1 1U17. 1

0 Di i u e 3 5 F 1 m m S 3 w im .1 16 6h mt t H 1 e 5 G C on 3 1 1 Jdrum to cause inrlepentl- 85 1e rolls.

2r tl the .1: .1

tent hen tl f thi a trensver suitabl tecl on the s iclth of t inventiona roll of in Fig. 3, is menu the drum, the adapted for the purpose in.erabl not 'rea ire. ;e in 90 "1p pi g the er The end 0 J rum.

, machine to l? led th iat rough .exlso ti of the drum at whi mountedrolls e5 (see and ire onto 95 r l9 ls unenor will depress the 1 s5, 2slip e t mo. into the plane merino the ZOl then t io

drawn out to the surrace 0 0 before or after the tire s a ll line ill nthe mac l o l T he on (l peoel is then released anr on "the outer r/, usiuzheati for vitlecl mechanism for strip as it is brought outer surfaceof the (lr this purpose we may 1 nu Th 0 m n w v M t S u t a e h .M t iv] 1 1.... 4m to B Q .1 1

anism but eon' ei in detail in Fi 4 with reference figure and to Fig. 3we describe it.

motor the drum l9 throu gh which roe meeh

eecl to shall next 40 Referrir 7 from the rol roll the surnice thereoflg to Fig.

l 423, betw eing a drive titled. wi h suitable recesses operate withteeth 0 9 1 S 1 b p e 1 r 4.4L S r0 oarent that t l suitable tightly Forthis in to be ee nulle 8t 13o be elem aner i ace tl 1 posi one pointslightly As seen in 1 i ter ramus so tio , it will be 1' sid he recesses01 and will eession of open loops. clown into flat plaits the por roll49 between the teeth 58 rises or portions o1 grea the rolls turn andthese par operation with the strip ward taster than at other time mouthof the loop which 11 by a cooperating tooth a the strip is thusdelivered tlwith the portions on eithe 60 in close proximity and thattherefore will roll down the loop into a flat plait as illustrated. Fi3, the shaft of the re mounted to permit the high poin G5 the roll 17.

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and the tire and paper thus firmly secured in position.

We shall next describe the mechanism whereby the edges of the strip ofpaper are raised from the surface of the drum and folded up about thesides of the tire and in doing so we shall refer chiefly to Figs. 3, 5and 6. At suitable points about the circumference of the drum arepivoted folding arms 83, conveniently in opposed pairs. Correspondingelements of each pair form a set which is pivoted on a circumferentialline adjacent the tire holding portion 77 of the drum. The surface ofthe drum may be provided with slots to receive these arms the bifurcatedouter portions of the webs 28, clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3, providingfor the support of the drum at either side of these slots. As seen inFig. 3, connecting members 87 are provided connected by universal oints,as shown, to the arms at their pivotal points, so that movement of onearm of the set will cause corresponding movement of the other arms. Thetire, paper strip and folding arms 85 being in the position shown inFig. 5, the operator will grasp one arm of each set and fold the twoupwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6 and it will be understood thatbecause of the connecting members 87 the other pairs of arms all aroundthe circumference of the tire will be similarly actuated andconsequently the paper strip 6 will be folded up around the sides of thetire all around its circumference and that the several plaits thereinwill open out to permit it to be thus folded. In order to insure smoothand uniform application of the paper to the sides of the tire the outerends of the arm 85 are connected by close wound springs 89, best seen inFig. 3, so that the paper is subjected to a folding and smoothing outaction all around the circumferenee. The springs 89 considered as a unitform an expansible and contractible ring which is normally positionedfree of the tire but of which the circumference may be altered to movethe paper and press it against the sides of the tire throughout thecircumference of the same. As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6 the surface ofthe drum may be provided "with circumferential slots 91 to receive thesprings 89 when the arms 83 are folded down. Then the arms are in thisposition the springs will assume a polygonal form as shown in Fig. 3 andwill exert no tendency to lift the arms 83 from the slots 85. 7

After the paper has been folded upabout the tire in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 6 it is preferable to provide means for more closelyfitting it thereto and forsmoothing out the plaits more neatly thanmight be possible because of their spontaneous opening when the paper isforced outwardly by arms .83 and connecting springs 89. For this purposeI provide mold members 98 and 95 having faces corresponding to'theprofile of the tire. The member 93 is carried by a sleeve 97 slidable asregards the shaft 13, as will be readily understood from inspection ofFig. 2, so that it may stand clear of the drum 19 as illustrated in thatfigure or be moved over the surface thereof into cooperation with thesides of the tire. The member 95 is mounted on a shaft 99 slidable in abearing in the left-hand standard 11. the shaft 99 being in alinementwith the shaft 13. Member 95 has three positions. First the dotted lineposition of Fig. 1 which is further to the right than the positionillustrated in Fig. 2. In this position the member 95 is spaced awayfrom the shaft 13 and drum 19 providing a space through which the tiremay be introduced to place itupon the circumference of the drum. Thesecond position is that shown in the drawing. The third position isfarther to the left so that the face of the member 95 cooperates withthe side of the tire and presses the paper therearound.

The mold members 93 and 95, as seen in Fig. 1, may be actuated by ahandle 101 pivoted to the frame at 103 and connected by a link 105 to ahub on member 95. The lever 101 also carries a link 107 secured by alost motion connection to a lever 109 pivoted on the frame and having abifurcated end secured to the hub of member 93. The lever 105 may beprovided with a dog 111 adapted to cooperate with a rack 113 on theframe to hold the lever in adjusted position.

Assuming the parts to be as shown in Fig.

1, if the dog is raised and the lever swung to the right to the dottedline position the mold member 95 will be carried to the right to thedotted line position. This movement of the lever will of course swingthe link 107 to the left but the lost motion connection of the linkpermits the member 93 to stay at rest. The parts of the machine are nowin position to permit the tire to be placed upon the support of thedrum. The lever 101 may then be rocked to the right to the full lineposition thus returning the member 95. After the arms 83 have acted asdescribed to fold the edges of the paper 6 about the sides of the tire,they are again swung down to the position shown in Fig. 5 and the lever101 is rocked still farther to the left advancing both of the members 93and 95 into cooperation with the sides of the tire.

As best seen in Fig. 1 the outer surfaces of the mold members may beprovided. with series of spring fingers 115, inwardly directed. Thisconstruction allows for expansion and provides a drawing action whichtightens the wrapper about the tire and folds over the extreme edges ofthe paper into close proximityready for sealing.

If desired. the motor 15 may now be startmembers ass described c0111-"111% e of the class 101i ubio moisie;

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, (H the class ulin" :1

Chi

1 Ciillin sltlon 7 21111 29 bv J with: m w

the esse on which scribed com- 115 and wrappil tire for the in ed;

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12. A. machine of the class described comprising a support for the tireand wrapping strip, means to fold the edges of the strip over the tiresides, members having a profile corresponding to the sides of the tireand means for closing said members in against the tire, said members andthe tire on its support being relatively rotatable.

13. A. machine of the class described, comprising a drum, strip supplymeans to deliver a strip from the inner side thereof to the surfacethereof and means for rotating said drum and also operating said meansor for rotating said drum independently.

14;. machine of the class described comprising a supporting drum, stripsupply means to deliver a wrapping strip from the inner side thereof tothe surface thereof, means for holding the strip folded about an annulararticle on said support and means for rotating said drum and alsooperating said means or for rotating said drum independently.

15. A machine of the class described comprising a cylindrical support, aset of positioning members about the same and means for moving saidmembers iii-and out towvard said support, said members in their innerposition lying along a circle concentric with said support and beingadapted to engage and suspend a tire by its outer circumference inspaced relation to said support whereby wrapping material can beintroduced over said support and encircling the inner circumference ofthe tire.

16. A machine of the class described comprising a cylindrical support,members concentrically positioned about the same and means for movingsaid members in and out from they center, said members in their innerposition lying along a circle concentric with said support and beingadapted to engage and suspend a tire by its outer circumference inspaced relation to said support whereby wrapping material can be introduced over said support and encircling the inner circumference of thetire.

17. A. machine of the class described comprising a cylindrical support,members concentrically positioned about and yieldingly pressed towardthe same and means for moving said members outwardly against suchyielding pressure, said members in their inner position lying along acircle concentric With said support and being adapted to engage andsuspend a tire by its outer circumference in spaced relation to saidsupport whereby wrapping material can be introduced over said supportand encircling the inner circumference of the tire.

18. A machine of the class described comprising a drum, paper supplymeans adj acent sair drum to permit delivery of a strip to the surfaceof the drum in encircling relation thereto, strip-folding mechanism forfolding over the margins of the strip throughout the circumference ofthe drum and a sealing-strip carrier mounted opposite the drum.

19. A machine of the class described comprising a drum, paper supplymeans adjacent said drum to permit delivery of a strip to the surface ofthe drum and strip plaiting mechanism located between the supply meansand the drum surface.

20. A machine of the class described comprising a cylindrical drumhaving a slit corresponding to an element of the cylinder, means withinthe drum to support a supply of strip and strip plaiting mechanismbetween the supporting means and the slit.

21. A machine of the class described comprising means for supporting atire by its outer periphery, means to support a wrapping strip inencircling relation to its inner circumference and means to fold bothedges of the strip up over the sides of the tire.

22. A machine of the class described comprising means to support a tirewith a wrapping strip encircling 1ts inner circumference and means tofold both edges of the strip u over the sides of the tire.

23. n a machine of the class described, a supporting drum for receivinga paper strip thereabout having a relatively narrow, eX-' pansible,ring-shaped portion 77 for clamping the tire and folding mechanism forlifting the paper from the drum to place it about the clamped tire.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

WILLIAM M. WHEILDON. ED'WARD H. ANGIER.

